Tax incentive on meeting agenda

Nanci G. Hutson

Updated 9:33 pm, Tuesday, September 2, 2014

BROOKFIELD -- A controversial tax-incentive plan for Unicorn Construction, which is proposing a major mixed-use and condominium development at the Four Corners, will be posed to the Board of Selectmen at a special meeting Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Town Hall.

First Selectman Bill Tinsley intends to propose an incentive plan that would give developers of the proposed Brookfield Village LLC a seven-year tax break plan.

It would defer payments of assessment increases for the first three years and require reduced, but accelerating payments for the final four years. Over the course of 30 years, the tax relief would equal some $1.3 million.

If no tax incentive is provided, and the developers build both the mixed-use space and condominiums, the town would annually collect $411,000 in taxes. If nothing is built, the town receives only the $45,000 in taxes Unicorn Construction now pays for the property, which it has owned for nine years.

Company officials have said an anticipated tax incentive plan has played a role in its development decision making.

Tinsley said Tuesday he fully expects the plan he spent six months negotiating with the developers to be debated with his fellow selectmen, even massaged into some alternate plan.

What he hopes he can make clear is that this incentive will not only benefit one developer but all the existing businesses in the Four Corners that are counting on revitalization of this area for their survival.

The Four Corners revitalization plan, which was drafted after input from more than 1,000 town residents, specifies tax incentives as a means to achieve the goal of making the area a downtown destination, he said.

Once the selectmen reach a decision, Tinsley said, he wants that proposal to be forwarded to voters for a town referendum to coincide with the Nov. 4 state election.

Minority Selectman Bill Davidson, Tinsley's predecessor and avid advocate of the Four Corners' redevelopment project, has been one of the most outspoken voices against Tinsley's proposed plan .

Davidson believes the tax assessment deferral ordinance passed in June was intended to entice development yet to occur, not reward development already underway.

Davidson has also argued that the Brookfield Village developers will be getting other tax incentives because they are building moderate-income apartments atop the retail and commercial buildings that are part of their proposed complex on Federal and Station roads.

The developers are also now working on a zone change to build 24 condominiums on 5 acres behind the mixed-used development.

The Board of Finance last week voted 5-1 against offering the incentive package. The majority of members said the developers are unlikely to divert from their development plans based on the proposed incentives.

Tinsley has long disagreed.

He said he is open to retooling the offer, but believes there needs to be better understanding that the incentives already come with some strings, including the construction of the condominiums as part of the full project and donation of some 2 acres of property to the town that could be used later as a park or for other public purposes.

Tinsley has also emphasized that no tax incentive will occur until certificates of occupancy are delivered.

In public meetings about the tax proposal, former Democratic Selectman Howard Lasser urged the selectmen to pose these tax incentive packages at a town meeting where residents can offer their views and vote on whether it makes sense for the community.

"I've advocated for broader participation for people," Lasser said.

He said he has no objection to the matter going to a town referendum, but he thinks there needs to be an intermediary step where people can question the plan and offer input before a decision is reached.

"If he (Tinsley) has a good story to tell, then he should welcome that opportunity," Lasser said.